Haha, he wants to play against SVB using the US Open rules? How many times has Shane won that thing again?
AtLarge, can you confirm how many years the most recent US Open rules were enforced?
I hear what you are saying, easy, but I think Jayson would argue he simply wants a fair rack. Not saying one way or the other that Shane can't win with those rules. I think that is another point to make here. All of these guys are obviously capable of winning any tournament at any given time. When stakes are high they look for an edge (sometimes rightfully so, sometimes maybe not) and this has certainly been an edge *shrug*
I can't understand what does Jayson means when he says that "you are breaking dead center Shane"... He can't be talking about breaking from the dead center of the table because he clearly doesn't..
Aiming dead center the 1 ball is illegal now, Jayson? Never heard that before...
Yeah he's reaching, Archer broke from there for years and dominated. Back when the camel tour was around you had to break from the box and nobody complained or had problems making balls.
AtLarge, can you confirm how many years the most recent US Open rules were enforced? ...
At least one thing has changed each of the last 5 years. Based on the "Conditions" I posted each year in my stats threads, here are the break requirements in recent years for the streamed matches at the US Open 9-Ball Championship.
2011:
- Delta-13 rack
- breaker racks for himself with the 1-ball on the foot spot and the 2-ball at the back of the rack
- break from the box (2 diamonds wide)
- the break is illegal (and non-breaker has an option to shoot) unless at least 3 balls pass the side pockets or are pocketed
- a 9-ball made on the break spots up if it went in either of the two foot-rail pockets
2012 -- same as 2011
2013 changes (otherwise same as 2012):
- Diamond wooden rack instead of Delta-13
- break box a bit narrower than 2-diamonds wide
2014 change (otherwise same as 2013)
- 9-ball racked on the foot spot instead of the 1-ball
2015 changes (otherwise same as 2014):
- Accu-Rack racking template instead of Diamond wooden rack
- break box approx. 9" to each side of the long string (not sure if this was slightly narrower than in 2013 and 2014)
[I'm not sure whether a 9-ball pocketed on the break in a foot-rail pocket counted (that did not occur in the streamed matches)]
2016 changes (otherwise same as 2015):
- a 9-ball on the break counted regardless of pocket
- in the illegal break rule, the 3 balls had to pass the head string rather than mid-table
2017 changes (otherwise same as 2016):
- referee racked rather than breaker
- in the illegal break rule, the 3 balls had to just touch the plane of the head string rather than cross the head string.
So that took us to this for 2017:
- Accu-Rack racking template;
- winner breaks from the box -- 9" to each side of the long string;
- referee racks with the 9-ball on the foot spot and the 2-ball at the back of the rack;
- the break is illegal (and non-breaker has an option to shoot) unless at least 3 balls touch the plane of the head string or are pocketed;
- all slop counts.
And this is one event. Every other event has their own variance and every year it changes, from the racking rules, to who can rack, to how they rack to the number of games per set to color of chalk, etc... 3 balls past some line, where to break from, where to rack, how hard to hit the break, loser break, winner break, alternate break, when you can take a break, who will check the rack, who can't check the rack...
And we complain about bar bangers making up rules LOL
You are mistaken on three counts.
1) the is no reason to assume that Shaw gave him a totally frozen rack from what you have said.
2) Shane most certainly did not hit them dead square. He used a cut break.
3) shane makes the wing ball because he does the break a person would do for a well frozen rack, not because he breaks like a monster.
KMRUNOUT
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I wouldn't eat anything that's been in the fridge since 1994 and your logic has a similar expiration date.
What was once a guarded secret is now known by many.
Joe Tucker's Racking Secrets. This is a dead wing ball into the corner. Just spend the $20 and you'll see why. Most people should accept this rack if your opponent racked for you and you know where to break from. People always gave Mike Dechaine crap about his rack, but it looks like SVB is doing it too. To be fair though, I'm pretty sure all pros know how to rack and wire in a dead wing ball.
I don't think Shane is doing anything wrong. He racks them tight, reads the rack and breaks accordingly. That's why he is the best and the rest aren't.
Early on, Shaw racked tight, broke soft knowing he'd get perfect shape on the one. Is that cheating? No, just a different tactic that didn't work to his favor in this meeting.
I don't think Shane is doing anything wrong. He racks them tight, reads the rack and breaks accordingly. That's why he is the best and the rest aren't.
Early on, Shaw racked tight, broke soft knowing he'd get perfect shape on the one. Is that cheating? No, just a different tactic that didn't work to his favor in this meeting.
I'm no guru on racking and won't comment on whether and how the rack is being doctored, but it sure doesn't work for the fans when players spend a long time racking the balls.
SVB shouldn't be the only one in the fire here. All of you who watched it (on the outer tables) know that Orcullo probably averaged three minutes to rack the balls in the semifinal against Melling. I sweated it with Greg Sullivan at my side, and I told him that unless something was done to stop this kind of delay in the play, the least he could do is give out free coffee to all attending fans to help them stay awake.
Yes, the Mosconi Cup sets the standard. You get a good tight rack, not a perfect rack and not a rack with gaps exactly where you want them. I haven't ever seen what I'd call a slug rack given at the Mosconi. You're allowed to inspect the rack, but no reracks are permitted. Matchroom knows how to keep an event moving along, and that's why their events are the very best in our sport.
I think the title of the entire thing is
a cheap shot at a player who deserves better
no one should be called a cheater
without proof
court proof
i also like referee racking and no inspecting
take what you get random rack
I disagree with your first point - the title is a reaction to Shaw calling out SVB for cheating. Whether he is cheating or not is certainly up for discussion but I actually see more cheap shots at Shaw on this thread. There are also a fair few cheap posts of the "stfu nobody has any right to question the validity or fairness of SVB's (or any other pro's) racking" variety.
I agree 100% with your final point about referee racking - events like these need to have referees if big pool tournaments are going to be elevated to the commercial status of those that do (e.g. Matchroom tournaments). A little investment in referees would go a long way to moving forward in this respect. It would also promote a culture within the sport of rack the head ball on the spot and rack the other 8,9 or 14 balls as tight as can you can against it and get on with the game. The pro game can set an example here but at the moment it is setting a bad example.
#1 You say we can't assume Shaw gave him a frozen rack.
#3 You say Shane makes the wing ball because he does the break a person would do for a well frozen rack.
So which is it?